8 Best whole house & large room air purifier in the UK in 2022: Comparison & Buyer's Guide
Today, we are going to learn how air-purifying works, what to look for when shopping for a purifier, and what things you’d better avoid. Since my son’s allergic to pollen, I’m ready to share my hands-on experience on how we tackle the most abominable allergy symptoms. I’ll also take you with me on my 50-hour research quest for the best air purifier on the market. In case you’re getting ready for an allergy season, or suffer from an asthmatic condition, an air purifier is an investment you can’t disregard. Below you'll find 4 Best Trusted Air Purifiers.
How air purifiers differ
The best air purifiers catch even the smallest allergens, as tiny as .3 microns (the human hair is 600 times larger), and prevent these particles from moving back into the air. But not all air purifiers are created equal. There are certain features you want to look for to ensure it will be effective against even the smallest of allergens: filter, CADR value, noise level.
The first and most important aspect of an air purifier is, of course, the type of filter. There are several types of filters that the market currently has to offer:
- Pre-filter is able to trap large particles, like pet hair, dander, and dust. They also serve as the first line of defense against the allergens and help prolong the life of the main filter. If you disregard using the pre-filter, you may end up with your main filter dying within a year or so, as it will take larger particles, which can clog it up and wear it down.
- HEPA filter is able to trap even the smallest of allergens, like micro pollen, mold spores, etc and it stops the allergens from getting back in the air. However, HEPA is helpless against odors and gases, which can be eliminated with the use of carbon filters.
- Carbon filter is a powerful filter that’s able to remove certain chemicals with an unpleasant odor, like hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs odor) or chlorine. Activated carbon that’s used in carbon filters works by chemical absorption thus, it traps the chemicals into the pore structure of the carbon substrate.
All three filters integrated into one Pre-filter + HEPA + Carbon filter has Philips Series 3000i Air Purifier With Real-Time Air Quality Feedback.
Sharp UA-HD60U-L Air Purifier with humidification has three filters and PLASMACLUSTER ION GENERATOR that emits positive and negative ions to combat airborne bacteria, viruses, mould, odours, and static.
CADR values
The best air purifier thus would have greater CADR values than its competition. CADR stands for clean air delivery rate that’s expressed in cubic feet per minute.
For example, if CADR for pollen is 240, then it means that the purifier can reduce the pollen particles to the same concentration as it would have been achieved by adding 240 cubic feet of clean air per minute. And while many air purifiers won’t necessarily achieve the CADR stated in their specifications (because conditions vary), it’s still advisable to look for these values and compare them across different models.
The highest CADR in our list — 400 CADR — has AEG AX91-404GY AX9 Air Purifier with 5-Step 360° AirSurround filtration system. It is very quiet, at the lowest level, it is almost inaudible at 17 dB (A).
The Philips Series 3000i with 400 CADR works with Alexa and is suitable for rooms up to 104 m². With an app, you can monitor the air quality and adjust the purifier settings wherever you are. Auto mode: its smart air quality sensor monitors and automatically adjusts purifiers settings if needed.
Best Trusted Room Air Purifiers in the UK Compared
Customers' Choice
Sharp UA-HD60U-L Air Purifier with Humidification by Amazon.co.uk
- PLASMACLUSTER ION GENERATOR - Emits positive and negative ions (found in nature) to combat airborne bacteria, viruses, mould, odours, and static. Ion Shower mode treats clothes, furniture, curtains, toys
- HUMIDIFIER - A humidity sensor monitors the air to maintain a healthy moisture level through evaporative humidification - ideal in the colder months when heated indoor air can dry out your skin
- TRIPLE AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM - Pre-filter for larger particles + odour filter to remove unwanted smells e.g. from food or smoke + HEPA filter removes 99.97 Percent of microscopic particles including pollen
Best Value
Most Popular: HEPA + Carbon Filter | Best for rooms up to 104 m²
Philips Series 3000i Connected Air Purifier with Real-Time Air Quality Feedback, Anti-Allergen, Combined HEPA +...
- The high-grade integrated filter removes harmful ultrafine particles as small as 0.003um, 800 times smaller than PM2.5
- Pre-filter + HEPA + Carbon filter — all three filters integrated into one.
- Remove 99. 97% of airborne ultrafine particles, dust, allergens, gases, bacteria, and viruses
- Intelligent purification – its professional-grade air quality sensor automatically monitors, reacts & purifies air so you don’t have to lift a finger.
- Night mode and automatic ambient light control ensure it doesn’t disrupt whilst you sleep. Quiet mark certified.
- 360-degree airflow circulation enables fast and efficient purification in large spaces up to 104m2 - Purify the air in a room of 20m2 in less than 8 minutes
- Control and monitor the 3000i from anywhere using your air matters app. Use Alexa for voice control
Let's summarise how the 3 trusted air purifiers in our list differ
- Sharp UA-HD60U-L Air Purifier with humidification has PLASMACLUSTER ION GENERATOR that emits positive and negative ions to combat airborne bacteria, viruses, mould, odours, and static. Ion Shower mode treats clothes, furniture, curtains, toys. This 3-in-1 device has a pre-filter for larger particles, an odour filter to remove unwanted smells from food or smoke. HEPA filter removes 99.97 Percent of microscopic particles. including pollen.
- AEG AX91-404GY AX9 Air Purifier has the highest CADR in our list — 400 CADR. The AirSurround system cleans the air up to 4x faster than older generations. 5 Step 360° filtration: prefilter + antibacterial layer + E12 filter + activated carbon filter + ionizer. It is extremely quiet at only 17 dB (A).
- Philips Series 3000i has all three filters integrated into one: Pre-filter + HEPA + Carbon filter. It works with Alexa voice control and its smart professional-grade air quality sensor automatically monitors, reacts & purifies the air. It has 400 CADR. Applicable room size for up to 104 m².
Mold & humidity
The ideal humidity levels should range from 30 to 50%. If the humidity is above those numbers, then mold and dust mites would thrive, if the humidity is too low, then a person can develop a skin condition (like atopic dermatitis could worsen, for example), dry eyes, throat irritation, etc. Thus, it could be inferred, that the air purifier should work in conjunction with other devices (humidifier, dehumidifier) and strategies (cleaning, washing) to be an efficient “weapon” against allergic symptoms.
Air purifiers are not as potent as they might seem for “sensitive populations”, like children and the elderly, because even the strongest air purifiers are sometimes powerless to the minuscule particles that would still linger in the air or settle quickly before they can be effectively removed. Thus, only washing, cleaning, and maintaining hygiene would play out well, and not a single air purifier alone.
The researchers outlined several key tips to ensure the air purifier works at its best: invest in HEPA filter; clean the filters regularly; eliminate the source of an allergic reaction (pet, rug, etc); improve indoor hygiene.
Most Popular, Discussed & Reviewed under £100 for rooms 45 m²
Pro Breeze Ultra-Powerful Air Purifier for Home (Large Rooms) with True HEPA Filter - Removes 99.97% of Pollen,...
- 5-in-1 Air Purification: Captures up to 99.97% of airborne particles, dust, pollen, smoke, odours, mould and pet dander with a Pre-Filter, True HEPA Filter, Cold Catalyst, and Activate Carbon Filters.
- CADR Rated 218+.
- Quiet Mark Certified: This 5-in-1 Air Purifier has been awarded the internationally renowned Quiet Mark which is only given to the quietest products on the market! The quiet operation makes it perfect for use in bedrooms, living rooms, and offices and includes built-in auto-on and auto-off timers.
- Negative Ion Generator: With the flick of a switch, the ultra-powerful negative ion generator binds to and neutralises airborne pollutants for a cleaner environment. It is independently controlled and can be turned on and off as desired.
- Fast & Powerful: Powerful enough to be used in large rooms up to 430 sq ft (45 square meters) with an incredible Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 218m³/hr built into a small and minimal design that looks great in any home or office
- Multiple Uses: Perfect for pet owners, smokers, hay fever sufferers, children, babies or anybody looking to improve air quality, remove unwanted smells and prevent harmful pollutants in their home or working space. Fully CE and RoHS Compliant.
What to look for in an air purifier
NB. Ozone air cleaners can safely be disregarded. And let me briefly explain here why. None of the devices that claim to clean the air by generating ozone has been approved for use in occupied spaces. Contrary to a popular belief, instead of actually helping the allergic condition, ozone can “worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections”, as outlined by the EPA. That said, do not buy ozone air cleaners.
- Room size. The feature, which might be the obvious one, is the room size that you need to “purify” with the device. The product specifications should indicate the air purifier’s cleaning capacity for a given area. You should be aware, though, of the fact, that dirty filters reduce the device’s capacity and it might become inefficient for the size initially claimed by the manufacturer. Thus, it’s imperative to take all the necessary steps to prevent filters from clogging up and clean the room in a timely fashion. The Philips Series 3000i with 400 CADR is suitable for rooms up to 104 m².
- Noise level. If you have a small child who’s oversensitive to noise, or anyone in your household who often finds it hard to fall asleep with an electric device working in the background, then you should look if there’s any indication that the device is noisy. Fortunately, the branded models have sealed systems for noise reduction, so there are fewer things to worry about. However, not all devices are the same, and some would have noise. If that concerns you, look for the noise level dBA, to see if it’s acceptable for you. The quietest one in our list, at the lowest level only 17 dB (A) is AEG AX91-404GY AX9 Air Purifier.
Products with a 5-star rating
Other Popular Room Air Purifiers
Levoit Air Purifiers for Home Allergies with H13 True HEPA Filter, Display Off, 3 Speeds, Night Light, Filter...
- 100% Ozone Free: The UVC Light and Anion that other brands adopt to purify air could produce a kind of air pollutant-Ozone, which is especially harmful to children and asthma sufferers. Levoit air purifiers never use these for 100% Ozone free
- Advanced 3-Stage Filtration System: The Pre-Filter, True HEPA Filter, and High-Efficiency Activated Carbon Filter capture allergens, pet hair, dander, smoke, odour and large dust particles, in addition to removing airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns
- Ultra-Silent Operation: Filters the air with the lowest noise level as quiet as 25dB for a restful and soothing indoor environment, helping you sleep deeply. All settings can be made via the Levoit’s air purifier's elegant touch panel control panel
- Night Light & Display Off Function: Choose between 2 brightness settings at night to help you see in the evening or turn the light off entirely to create your ideal sleep environment for an undisturbed slumber
- 3 Fan Speeds: Choose from low, medium, or high fan speeds to tackle any level of air quality, making it a perfect fit in normal size rooms or office spaces
- Filter Change Reminder: A Built-in Replacement Indicator reminds you when you need to replace your filter. It’s recommended to replace your filter every 6-8 months depending on use and air quality. Levoit offers more affordable replacement filters than those of many other brands, guaranteeing you savings far into the future
- Quality Assurance: The British standard 3-pin plug and 25W motor are guaranteed to get the job done. Excellent for people who suffer from allergies, nasal stuffiness, cough, sneezing, asthma, etc.
Air Purifier Rainbow Breezer by CareforAir - Water Electric Freshener
- FREE 100ml Thai Lotus ESSENCE
- Strong and powerful motor - Keep your air free of allergens, bacteria, dust, cooking household odours, air pollution, mould, fungi, paint fumes, pollen, stale air, tobacco odour, pet smells and pet dander.
- BREATHE THE INTELLIGENT WAY - For house owners, pet owners, office workers, smokers, e-cig and vape users, asthmatics, fresh air enthusiasts, allergy and acne sufferers. The breezer will not only clean, freshen and humidify your indoor air it will help you feel a whole lot better.
- COST EFFECTIVE - Uses only 16watts of power. Low cost running it 24 hours per day. Each Breezer cleans at a rate of 120ft3 per hour in an area of up to 800ft2 (75m2 ) reducing the risk and minimizing your exposure to these pollutants causing allergic reactions. CE & RoHS approved
MEES Air Purifiers for Home with H13 True HEPA Filter, Smart WiFi, Auto Mode, Compatible with Alexa & Google...
- 【True HEPA H13 Air Purifier】: Equipped with pre-filter, H13 ture HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, easy to remove up to 99.97% dust, smoke, odor, pet dander and cooking s small as 0.3 microns from the air around your living space and zero Ozone emission.
- 【Voice Control & Smart WIFI】: Controlling your HEPA air purifier has never been this simple. No need to use smart plug. Use your smartphone to directly control air purifier anytime anywhere, always breathe fresh air when arrive at home. Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Amazon echo dot/tap/show and Google Assistant for voice control.
- 【Smart Auto Quality Sensor】: With a built-in smart air quality sensor, the air purifier can detect air quality at every moment(blue-yellow-red), automatically change colors and adjust fan speeds based on the air quality it senses.
- 【Ensure Whole-Night Sleep】: Your sleep quality improved almost immediately. Sleep mode is awesome for the bedroom with a noise level at 24dB. Create a schedule and timer on APP to automatically change the mode to conserve energy.
- 【Quality Service】: The package comes with 1x Air Purifier, 1x User Manual and our Lifetime Service! Your satisfaction is our main priority. RE_Products provides 24-month replacement service and lifetime friendly after-sales service.
